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Jefferson County

Thousands climb Red Rocks in remembrance of 9/11

West Metro firefighters Chris Trost and Tyler Hecox lead the pack up the south ramp at Red Rocks Amphitheater carrying the American and Colorado flags.

Shanna Fortier

Tags honoring those who died on Sept. 11, 2001 were available for climbers to wear in remembrance of the lives lost.

Shanna Fortier

This is the ninth year of the Colorado 9/11 Stair Climb remembering the events of Sept. 11, 2001.

Shanna Fortier

Members of the public are invited to climb alongside firefighters as a memorial.

Shanna Fortier

Many climbers chose to wear full gear as a tribute to their fallen firefighter brethren.

Shanna Fortier

Sixteen states were represnted at the memorial event.

Shanna Fortier

Tyler Hecox, of West Metro Fire, salutes the flag during the opening ceremony of the ninth annual Colorado 9/11 Stair Climb held Sept. 11 at Red Rocks.

Shanna Fortier

Evergreen Fire Rescue was one of 60 fire departments to participate in the memorial stair climb at Red Rocks Monday morning.

Shanna Fortier

John Zeising, of the Red, White and Blue Fire Protection District in Breckenridge, was one of 2,000 climbers representing 60 fire departments at the ninth annual Colorado 9/11 Stair Climb.

Shanna Fortier

Members of West Metro and South Metro Fire came together to raise the American flag for the opening ceremony at the Colorado 9/11 Stair Climb.

The registration table was scattered with badges, each one with the face of someone who lost their life on Sept. 11, 2001. As the American flag flapped in the wind, attached to two fire truck ladders, more than 2,000 firefighters, paramedics and civilians readied to climb 110 flights of stairs at Red Rocks Amphitheater — a memorial to the 110 stories climbed by firefighters 16 years ago at the World Trade Center.

“We all remember 9/11 — where you were at, what you were doing, how you felt,” said Laurelyn Norberry, 32, a volunteer firefighter with Evergreen Fire and Rescue. “So this is our chance to remember, pay respects and do something to honor those who have fallen.”

The ninth annual Colorado 9/11 Stair Climb drew climbers from 60 fire departments and 16 states.The Stair Climb benefits the FDNY Counseling Services Unit and the programs provided by the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation to support the families of our nation's fallen.

As tribute, many firefighters climbed in full bunker gear.

“It's just the culture,” said Lt. Brenden Finnegan with West Metro Fire. “It shows respect to the firefighters who work in NYC and lost their lives that day.”

Finnegan has been participating in the event since it began.

“It's a great experience to come and be with all your friends and family crew members and remember 9/11,” he said. “Some of us lost friends in the towers — both firefighters and civilians. It's just a good experience to be part of.”